BT 5 - 03 Specialized Wall Systems and Curtain Wall & Skylight

Fenestration

• Design, arrangement, placement of bldg. openings

• Includes windows, doors, skylights, curtain walls, glazed facades and other openings

• Key purposes: Natural light, ventilation, energy performance and architectural apperance

Glass

Clear, tinted, low-E, laminated, insulated

Aluminum

Strong, durable, corrosion-resistant

Steel

Strong: supports large glass panels

Wood

Natural appearance and good insulation: requires maintenance

Fiberglass

Durable, low-maintenance, good thermal performance

Vinyl

Cost effective with good insulation

Composite

Combines benefits of different materials

Casement Window

A side-hinged window that swings outward or inward like a door, typically operated using a crank handle or manual push-out mechanism

Skylight

A glazed structure installed on a roof designed to bring natural daylight and ventilation into a building

Transom Window

A narrow horizontal window that sits directly above a door or another window, separated by a horizontal beam called a transom bar

Rainscreen System

Which wall system uses a ventilated airspace behind the cladding?

Building openings and their arrangement

What does fenestration refer to?

Curtain Wall

A thin wall, usually aluminum-framed, with glass, metal panels, or thin stone infill

• Attached to bldg. structure

• Does NOT carry the building’s floor to roof loads

Curtain wall wind and gravity loads

_______ and ______ transferred to the building structure.

Stick System

Mullions and glass/opaque panels are installed and connected piece by piece on site

Unitized System

Large factory-assembled and glazed units are shipped to site and erected

Unitized modules

________ connect through their adjoining vertical and horizontal mullions

adjustable proprietary anchors

Unitized systems typically use_________ at slab/spandrel edges

Skylight

An opening/system used to bring daylight through the roof.

• Forms part of the building envelope

Aluminium Composite Panels

Sandwiched panels which have layers of aluminium sheets with the polyethylene core

• It is used in the exterior as well as in the interior of the buildings

• The main purpose of this cladding is to enhance any dead wall or to provide aesthetics to the elevation of the building

3mm

Aluminium composite panels are prefabricated panels which consist of two aluminium sheet with_____ of polyethylene core.

0.5mm

The thickness of aluminium sheets are______ therefore total thickness of the panel comes out to be 4mm which varies accordingly.

PVDF

The exterior panel of the aluminium panel i.e. aluminium sheet is coated with

_________.

Porsche

One of the first projects with aluminium composite panels

corrosion resistance

Aluminium panel alloy offers increased ________ and advantages in processing

super polyester lacquer

The_________ guarantees ideal printing properties, for screens as well as digital printing

100% recyclable

Aluminium is a sustainable material as it is________, without any loss of quality. 

Marble sheets

________ can be used with aluminium composite panels

medieval fortifications.

The term “curtain wall” was first used to describe the outer wall of _________.

Metal Curtain Wall 

An exterior curtain wall which may consist entirely or principally of metal, or may be a combination of metal, glass and other surfacing materials supported by or within a metal framework.

Window Wall

A type of metal curtain wall installed between floors or between floor and roof and typically composed of vertical and horizontal framing members, containing operable sash or ventilators, fixed lights or opaque panels or any combination thereof

Mullion and panel

Consists of gridwork similar to stick system and prefabricated framed panels installed between

Window wall

Consists of wall system spanning between floor slabs with slab edge cover. Almost entirely restricted to residential applications

2-Sided Structural Silicone (2SSG)

Two edges of infill are adhered to framing with structural silicone sealant and two edges are mechanically fixed usually with pressure plates. 

4-Sided Structural Silicone (4SSG)

Four edges of infill are adhered to framing with structural silicone sealant. Must be shop installed (for quality control)

Channel Glazing

Channel or pocket glazing is modeled off of window sash assembly

Infill Panel

Maneuvered into oversized channel and fixed in position with wedge in type of gaskets

Structural Gasket

Consists of performed rubber seal with recess where locking strip is inserted

Locking strip

Exerts pressure on rubber creating seal

Curtain wall anchors

_______ connect the wall to the building and can be broadly grouped as both gravity and lateral load anchors (fixed) or as just lateral load anchors (slotted).

Concrete embeds

_______ come in a variety of designs and, aside from a few proprietary anchor systems, there is little standardization across the industry.

Aluminum extrusion

_______ is the primary framing material for glass and metal curtain wall systems

Alloy 6063

The most common framing alloy in North America. It provides a good combination of mechanical properties and extrudability.

Alloy 6061

______ is a medium strength structural alloy. It is used in sheet, plate and extruded form in applications requiring greater strength than 6063.

Contact with Dissimilar Materials – Galvanic Series

Pre-painted aluminum generally does not require any further protection even in contact with wood, concrete or steel.

Steel Reinforcing

For most common spans, the standard, relatively thin walled, aluminum extrusions have adequate strength. 

Pultruded Fibreglass

Used in pressure plate and snap cap components where special corrosion resistance or increased thermal performance is required

Snap caps or dress caps

Typically made from extruded aluminum of the same alloy as the main framing member.

• They may also be made from formed aluminum, formed stainless steel or in some cases, formed copper.

Low-Range Sealants

These sealants include oil or resin based caulks, bituminous-based mastics and polybutene-based sealants.

Medium-Range Sealants

The sealants used in these applications are the better low shrinkage butyl sealants and some polyurethanes.

Butyl sealants

Are among the least expensive commercial grade sealants.

High-range sealants

Include silicones and polyurethanes. 

Silicone sealants 

High recovery products accommodating movement by elastic extension and compression.

Heat-Treated Glass

Behaves as annealed glass with respect to deflection, thermal characteristics, colour, clarity and light transmission.

Spandrel glass 

Components in an SSG system must comply with all the requirements of spandrel glass in general

Concrete Curb

Air barrier and vapour retarder seals are simplified, insulation and air barrier planes are more readily continuous